Public institutions to buy locally produced rice, sugar under new procurement law – Ato Forson

Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has announced plans to amend the Public Procurement Act to compel public institutions to purchase locally produced rice and sugar, in a move aimed at creating a guaranteed market for Ghanaian farmers.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Friday, November 13, he said the proposed amendment would require institutions using public funds to procure food for schoolchildren and security personnel to source the products from local farmers.

“We are going to amend the Public Procurement Act to ensure that, at a minimum, if you are using Ghana’s money to buy rice for Ghanaian schoolchildren or our men and women in uniform, that rice must come from a Ghanaian farm,” he said.

Dr Forson cited the School Feeding Programme and the Free Senior High School policy as major public procurement channels that could provide a ready market for locally produced food.

He estimated that the two programmes spend about GH¢6 billion on feeding annually, creating significant opportunities for local farmers to supply rice, maize and other food products.

Questioning why public institutions should import rice while local farmers struggle with excess produce, he said the proposed law would help address the disconnect between domestic production and public procurement.

He stressed that the requirement would be legally enforceable, warning that institutions that disregard the amended procurement law could face sanctions.

CitiNewsRoom